Council approves SPLOST reallocations for sheriff tactical gear and fire/EMS equipment

At its Jan. 27 meeting the Columbus City Council approved two SPLOST reallocation requests: one from the sheriff’s office for tactical equipment and another from Fire/EMS for fleet and equipment needs.

Deputy City Manager described the sheriff’s request as replacing a previously approved SPLOST item with $430,000 to purchase tactical equipment, which the staff list included 20 night-vision goggles and 34 ballistic vests. Council moved and approved the reallocation without recorded roll-call names for each vote.

A similar reallocation from the fire department asked to reallocate $1,800,000 that had been approved for a fire engine toward three ambulances, a command-and-control build-out, turnout gear (95 sets), two reserve fire trucks, five mobile data terminals, three staff vehicles and one bomb suit. Council moved and approved the fire/EMS reallocation; fire leadership said the shift will buy time and address fleet needs.

Councilors who spoke in support framed the reallocations as re-prioritizing existing SPLOST-authorized funds to address urgent public-safety and fleet needs.